Lenovo Announces An Affordable Duo Of LTE-Enabled Slates, The TAB 2 A10-70 And The A8

Lenovo has used this year's Mobile World Congress as a chance to unveil two new affordable Android tablets that expand upon the immensely cheap TAB 2 A series introduced in January. These slates don't aim for a lower price point ($99 is hard to beat, after all). Instead, both come with LTE.

Left: TAB 2 A10-70, Right: TAB 2 A8

The TAB 2 A10-70 (not to be confused with the A7-10) has a 10 inch FHD screen, is only 8.9 millimeters thin, and weighs around 500 grams. It will run Android 4.4 (Lollipop expected in June) powered by a MediaTek 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 7,000mAh battery. There's 16GB of memory on the inside and a microSD card slot for storage. The device will sell for $199 (Wi-Fi) or $279 (LTE) in your choice of white or blue this April.

The smaller, 8-inch TAB 2 A8 will contain 8 - 16 GBs of internal storage (also expandable through a microSD slot). It runs off of a slightly slower MediaTek 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 4,290mAh battery. Since the device is arriving a couple months behind the A10-70, it will ship with Android 5.0. The A8 will launch in June for $129 (Wi-Fi) or $179 (LTE) in black, white, blue, and pink.

PRESS RELEASE

New Lenovo Tablets Prove Big Technologies and Savings Come in Small Packages

A Series Tablets Package LTE Connectivity, Dolby Atmos Cinema Sound and Affordability

Even More Choice with A Series Android and MIIX 300 Windows Tablets

BARCELONA, SPAIN - March 1, 2015: As a leader in building devices for the uniquely personal ways people use technology today, Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) has created three new consumer tablet choices: a pair of A Series Android tablets, the Lenovo TAB 2 A8 and A10-70, and a Windows tablet, the ideapad MIIX 300. Debuting at Mobile World Congress 2015, these different devices help meet consumers’ desire for entertainment and portability at prices set for universal appeal.

The all-new A Series proves affordable tablets can go big for entertainment capabilities with their high speed LTE connectivity and Dolby Atmos® technology. These tablets not only keep people connected virtually anywhere, but they also make movies, TV shows and music more enjoyable with astonishing clarity, richness, power and depth over their built-in speakers. Meanwhile, the 8-in ideapad MIIX 300 offers Windows users pocket-sized productivity.

TAB 2 A10-70 – A Digital Bestie for Massively Hungry Media Addicts

Now consumers can have it all – a large screen tablet that’s thin and light and also stocked with a number of multimedia and performance-optimized features. Since many people use their tablet for relaxing with digital content, users will love the tablet’s 10.1-in FHD screen, making it easy to get close to the gaming action or watch movies in brilliantly sharp resolution.

To complete the audio-visual technology feast, we’ve equipped the tablet with Dolby Atmos®, making it the first 10-in Android tablet to include this moving cinematic sound technology. Users can crank up the volume and enjoy extremely rich and powerful sound through the multi-speaker soundbar, an impressive offering for such a compact tablet.

At only 8.9mm thin and just 509 grams, the new TAB 2 A10-70 fits nearly anywhere people want to take it. Running Android™ 4.4 with a MediaTek® quad core processor, the tablet now ups the performance of its predecessor with lightning-fast LTE connectivity, dual band Wi-Fi and an 8-megapixel rear camera. It comes in two enticing color choices: Pearl White or Midnight Blue. And with pricing starting at less than $200 USD, Lenovo is reshaping the relationship between price and value.

TAB 2 A8 – Essential Companion for Staying Connected

Recognizing that one tablet doesn’t fit all needs, we created the 8-in entry TAB 2 A8. This HD tablet caters to those who want to stay connected at a wallet-friendly price or who juggle multiple needs using one device. Starting at just $129 USD (WiFi models), the TAB 2 A8 can handle the most frequent personal connectivity tasks with ease, from updating social media to video chatting. Even lighter than the TAB 2 A10-70 at 360 grams and just as thin, the TAB 2 A8 lasts through an entire eight-hour work day without plugging in and features a dual SIM card slot for voice and LTE for data. And like the TAB 2 A10-70, this 8-in tablet packages affordability with LTE high speed wireless technology, a feature typically unexpected in an entry level tablet.

Proving that good sound can indeed come in small packages, the TAB 2 A8 caters to media junkies with Dolby Atmos, a moving audio experience over headphones where sound seems to come from all directions, including overhead, putting users inside the action. Shutterbugswill also enjoy using the TAB 2 A8’s 5-megapixel rear camera to take sharp resolution photos. Responding to customer feedback and demand, we designed the TAB 2 A8 as our first tablet to run Android 5.0 Lollipop in pure form. Like its bigger brother, the TAB 2 A8 also features a MediaTek 64-bit Quad Core processor. It also features up to 32 GB of storage via a microSD card and comes in four distinctly fun color options: Pearl White, Ebony, Midnight Blue or Neon Pink.

ideapad MIIX 300 – Pocket-sized Productivity

For those who prefer a Windows tablet experience, the ideapad MIIX 300 offers the extreme portability of an 8-in tablet with the familiarity of Windows 8.1 along with Microsoft Office applications for productivity (one year subscription included). The ideapad MIIX 300 proves productivity can come in any size.

The tablet’s premium IPS WUXGA screen makes it an ideal platform for getting work done, like emailing, video conferencing and showing digital content, while also making more fun tasks such as watching a movie or online video more enjoyable. Powered by an Intel® AtomTM processor, it has the essential features users expect with a tablet capable of doing real work, including up to 64 GB of internal eMMC storage, a microSD card reader for transferring media, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, dual cameras, and long battery life. And the ideapad MIIX 300 looks good, too with its Platinum Silver finish.

Quotes

“Our new tablets prove that affordability and innovation can be synonymous,” said Jeff Meredith, vice president and general manager, Tablets, Mobile Business Group, Lenovo. “In particular, bringing LTE speed and Dolby Atmos cinema sound is expected in premium devices, but we have challenged the norm and delivered these consumer-desired features to our entry A Series in order to elevate the mobile connected experience.”

“The best entertainment experiences put you in the heart of the action, and that’s what Dolby Atmos is designed for,” said John Couling, senior vice president, E-Media Business Group, Dolby Laboratories. The combination of Dolby Atmos sound and the superior digital performance of the TAB 2 are a winning combination, and we are excited to collaborate with Lenovo to provide an outstanding experience that deepens consumer engagement with entertainment on the go.”

Price and Availability

The Lenovo TAB 2 A10 will be available starting in April with models starting at approximately $199 USD for Wi-Fi models and $279 USD for LTE models.

The Lenovo TAB 2 A8 will be available starting in June with models starting at approximately $129 USD for Wi-Fi models and $179 USD for LTE models. Consumers can find them at leading retailers and online at www.lenovo.com.

The Lenovo ideapad MIIX 300 goes on sale starting in July and will be available via major retailers. Models will start at approximately $149 USD.